The merger of 1962, and the end that is not yet dated

1962 – AFTER 1996 · merged into the Independent-News; cessation a named gap

The line's last documented turn is a merger: the Indiana State Library's Hoosier State Chronicles program, announcing the Walkerton titles contributed by the Walkerton Historical Society, states that the series "spans widely from 1886 to 1962, when it would merge into the Independent-News" — the Walkerton Independent of the directory record ends in 1962 (LCCN SN87055783), and the merged paper, The Independent-News (LCCN SN87055952), is the title that follows. Issues of the Independent-NewsWhen the Independent-News ceased is not established in the record reached, and this section prints the question rather than an answer: it stands in the gaps register with its settlers — the Indiana Historical Society's Indiana Newspaper Bibliography and the Chronicling America title record.

Sources:

1. Indiana State Library, Hoosier State Chronicles program statement (blog.library.in.gov) — the Walkerton series, 1886–1962, the merger into the Independent-News, the Walkerton Historical Society as contributor.
2. Independent-News issues in Hoosier State Chronicles, 1964 – 13 February 1992 (the latest issue reached).
3. 1st Source Bank Community Reinvestment Act public file exhibit, Federal Reserve, 1996 (the "Walkerton Independent News," weekly, circulation 2,345; the "Walkerton Shopper," weekly, circulation 8,402).
4. United States Newspaper Directory records via Chronicling America (LCCN SN87055783; LCCN SN87055952).